PROGRESS: Foundation moves to downtown digs

SAN ANGELO, Texas - The San Angelo Area Foundation celebrates the new year with a physical move to new offices, located on the corner of Concho Avenue and Irving Street. The office complex provides space for the foundation's offices and two additional tenants. All of which add a return on the foundation's investment, as well as added beauty to a downtown in the midst of a thriving revitalization.

Since its inception, the foundation has received more than $120 million in donations from more than 4,000 different donors. During the past 11 years, more than $48 million has been awarded in grants, yet the foundation ended 2013 with more than $93 million in assets. The foundation received more than $16 million in contributions this past year with more than $5 million going out in grants to a multitude of charities, churches and universities.

Our long term focus is for growth and total return for these charitable assets over a multiyear outlook. Since the foundation's inception, our investment portfolio has seen an annualized return in excess of 8 percent. These net accumulated investment returns now exceed more than $20 million, meaning the foundation will be able to make perpetual grants in line with donors' intentions.

All of these milestones are testament to the generosity of many people in the Concho Valley, which allows the foundation to rank in the top 10 percent of the fastest growing community foundations in the U.S.

Providing area youth with access to higher education has been one of the priorities for the foundation. More than 90 different scholarship funds have been created by numerous donors, which have provided more than 2,500 recipients more than $5 million dollars in scholarships since 2004. Additional gifts and new funds continue to grow these assets, and the awards will increase in the future.

The San Angelo Area Foundation have been fortunate to manage the trust of many donors through their designated gifts and we will work hard to continue earning this trust. A gift to the foundation's unrestricted or field of interest funds will ensure help for the many causes and unmet needs we cannot foresee in the future. These funds allow grant making to occur, even in tough economic times, because the foundation uses only 5 percent of the fund each year in grant awards. Remaining investment gains are retained to provide growth for inflation as well as protection during down periods. A huge debt of gratitude is owed to our many donors and to the vision of the trustees of the San Angelo Health Foundation, who started the foundation in 2002.

The groundwork has been laid for a successful future. To find out more about the foundation and ways to give or establish a fund, visit our website at www.saafound.org or call 325-947-7071. You can also stop by our new home at 221 South Irving St.